The founder of a new Christian school in Reading insists she has faith the school will grow, despite just two pupils joining when it opened at the start of this academic year.

Trinity Christian School, located at a large house in Glebe Road, Katesgrove, was established by a group of parents and teachers who felt concerned about a rise in secularisation at schools in the UK.

The group was led by Jean Dandy, who is teaching head and the only paid member of teaching staff, which includes eight volunteers.

The school is run by a team of four governors including Mrs Dandy who will eventually come off the board.

The school opened to pupils aged from four to eight although many pre-school aged children of the volunteers also attend when their parents help at the school.

It is hoped some of them will carry on and others will join next year as the school looks to increase its age bracket up to 11 and later extend to include secondary education.

Mrs Dandy said: “We are delighted that after three years of planning and preparation the school has opened. Our first cohort comprises two full-time pupils aged five and six who started on September 10.

“So far demand has been slow but we are keen for prospective parents to visit and find out what Trinity Christian School has to offer.

“We have seen Christian schools in the UK grow from two or three pupils to 70 or 80 and these schools are still growing. We pray the Lord will give similar growth to our school.”

Mrs Dandy is an ex-headteacher of Emmanuel Christian School in Oxford and has previously worked at Highdown School, Reading Girls’ School, Maiden Erlegh School and Emmbrook School in Wokingham.

The school has been funded by donations and school fees which start at £3,960 a year for the first child in a family, £3,300 for the second and £2,520 for a third.

It is receiving educational support from the Christian Schools’ Trust.

Children from Christian and non-Christian backgrounds are welcome although the school’s admissions policy states that parents must accept the Biblical principles on which the school is run.

Mrs Dandy said: “Pupils benefit from an education which places God at the centre of the school in its ethos and curriculum. Classes are small so pupils get individual attention.”